The invention relates to a rail brake element, in particular for use in rail brake buffer blocks, comprising a pair of clamping plates extending about a rail head from each side and supported against its top surface, which clamping plates are clamped against the rail head by a clamping device including a clamping bolt and a spring assembly, and include at its portion below the rail head a brake lining portion of suitable rigid friction material for engagement with the rail head, wherein the brake lining layer engages the rail head by means of a raised portion of wear material having a static friction coefficient smaller than that of the brake lining layer.